Free motion girdle



July 2, 1963 N. A. MARlNO FREE MOTION GIRDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 12, 1960 INVENTOR. NICHOLAS ANTHONY MARINO BY 3 "W ATTORNEY July 2, 1963 N. A. MARINO FREE MOTION GIRDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 12, 1960 INVENTOR. NICHOLAS ANTHONY MARINO ATTOP/VFV United States Patent Q Filed Dec. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 75,295 1 Claim. (Cl. 128552) This invention relates to the art of undergarments and particularly concerns an improved abdominal girdle.

One of the principal difliculties confronting wearers of conventional girdles is the tendency of the girdles to ride up while the wearers walk. Many expedients have been proposed to overcome this tendency with more or less success but always with the accompaniment of objectionable features such as binding straps which restrict walking, panels which limit stretching of the garment to one direction, or other structures which make the garments uncomfortable to wear.

The present invention has as its principal object provision of an improved girdle which overcomes difficulties and disadvantages of prior girdles and instead affords several advantages thereover.

A further object is provision of a girdle with a floating liner especially adapted to prevent riding up of the girdle without restricting walking, and in addition furnishing improved body support to the wearer.

According to the invention there is provided a girdle having an outer tubular member conforming in shape to the abdominal and pelvic sections of the female form.

Within the outer member is an inner tubular member secured to the outer member only along certain lines located at the front and rear of the garment. A lower front portion of the outer member is formed arcuately to be clear of the wearers legs while walking. The outer and inner layers overlay each other at the rear of the girdle and define a double layered band which fits under and supports the lower portions of the wearers buttocks. This anchors the girdle against riding up, improves the form of the wearers body, provides greater support than prior girdles, and is very comfortable to wear.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the obejcts and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a girdle embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the girdle.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the girdle.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are vertical sectional views taken on lines 55 and 66, respectively, of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a girdle 10 including an outer body-encircling tubular member 12 and an inner body-encircling tubular member 14. Outer member 12 is shaped to conform to the abdominal and pelvic regions of a female person. The member 12 includes two panels 16 and 18 which smoothly overlay the abdomen and hips of the wearer. The panels 16, 18 are joined at a centrally located elastic vertical seam 20 at the front of the garment; see FIGS. 1 and 3. At the rear of the garment, panels 16 and 18 are formed withoutwardly curved edges joined to correspondingly curved edges of two narrow panels 22, 24 by elastic seams 25, 27. Panels 22, 24 have two straight edges joined by a centrally located elastic vertical seam 26 at the rear of the garment; see FIGS. 2, 3 and 6. Spaced garter Patented July 2., 1963 ice straps 28, 30 are secured to the lower elastic seam 23 at the lower edges of panels 16 and 18.

Disposed within the outer member is the inner tubular member 14 which conforms in size and shape to the inner Walls of member 12. The inner member includes two panels 32, 34 joined to each other and to the outer member 12 at the elastic front seam 20. The panels 32, 34 are further joined by an elastic seam 21 which is aligned with and which extends below seam 20. The panels 16 and 18 are formed with obliquely disposed lower front edges 17 and 19 arranged in inverted V-form high on the front of the garment so that V-shaped lower portions 32 and 34 of panels 32 and 34 are exposed; see FIG. 1. These lower portions are also formed with angularly disposed lower edges 31, 33 extending parallel to edges 17 and 19, respectively, and terminating at their upper ends at seam 21. These lower portions of panels 32 and 34 overlie the legs of the wearer in a single layer since the outer tubular member is in effect cut away substantially clear of the legs of the wearer at the front of the garment.

At the lower ends of edges 31, 33 are secured garter straps 36, 38. From the lowermost apical points of the panels 32, 34, where the straps 36, 38 are attached, the lower edges of the panels extend diagonally upward at 31*, 33 to overlay the sides of the thighs of the wearer.

Panels 32, 34 have curved rear edges joined to correspondingly curved edges of two narrow panels 40-, 42 by elastic seams 44, 46 at the rear of the garment; see FIGS. 5 and 6. These seams 44, 46 are not attached to the outer member 12. Panels 40, 42 are joined to each other and to the narrow panels 22, 24 at the central elastic vertical seam 26. The panels 40, 42 are formed with inclined lower edges 41, 43 which terminate at the lowermost endless edge 45 of the girdle and are attached to the lowermost edges of panels 22, 24 at endless elastic seam 23. Seam 23 in conjunction with the lower tapered portions of panels 40, 42 and lower portions of panels 22, 24 defines a tensioned elastic band which engages under the buttocks of the wearer and serves to lift the same at the same time providing an effective anchor for the girdle to prevent it from riding up while the wearer walks. Over the buttocks, hips and front pelvic region of the wearer there is thus provided a double-layered constraining garment. At the top edge 50 the inner and outer members are joined together in an endless seam 51. Adjacent seam 51 is a felt lining strip 53. All the panels of the garment are formed of elastic material stretchable in all directions in their planes. Due to marginal attachments of the several inner and outer members, both members are substantially free to stretch independently.

The girdle is so constructed that when it is donned by the wearer, the abdomen is flattened, and the buttocks are constrained so that a smooth, fashionable foundation is provided for outer garments. The girdle is comfortable to wear, will not ride up and provides positive support. Advantage is taken of the shape of the buttocks to serve as anchoring means against riding up.

The single layer of fabric at the front portion 32 and 34 of the inner member 14 and their tapered form as shown in FIG. 1 insures minimum restriction of leg movement in walking. The double layer of fabric at the front, sides and rear provides a reinforced structure which is very effective in supporting and constraining the body.

The garment embodying the present invention can be worn all day by the wearer without experiencing the discomfort suffered with conventional girdles.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A girdle comprising an outer body-encircling member superposed upon an inner body-encircling member, said body-encircling members, along the vertical edges thereof, being joined to form a front seam, the upper edges of said inner and outer body-encircling members being of the garment and terminating at the front seam, said lower edge of the outer member extending generally horizontally across the rear 0f the garment, the lower edges of said inner and outer members being joined by stitching at the lower edges thereof at the rear of the garment, and hose supporting means secured to said downwardly extending portions of the lower edge of the inner member at the front of the garment and secured to the horizontally extending lower edge of the outer member at the rear of the garment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,659,008 Siegel Feb. 14, 1928 2,661,002 Silverman Dec. 1, 1953 2,758,311 Stud1er Aug. 14, 1956 2,878,810 Sharp Mar. 28, 1959 2,888,018 Grishman May 26, 1959 3,011,496 Cousins Dec. 5, 1961 

